FAST FASHION giant Shein was banned in France on the same day it opened its first physical store, when fury erupted over the sale of child sex dolls on the website.
The shocking listings, which appeared to show “child-like sex dolls,” sparked outrage across France just as the China-founded retailer prepared to cut the ribbon on its Paris debut.
The three-foot dolls, priced at around £170 (€190), were described online as “sex dolls with erotic bodies” and “realistic genitals.” Authorities said the images showed what appeared to be a girl holding a teddy bear, with braids and a wide-eyed expression.
France’s consumer watchdog, the DGCCRF, said it was “blood-curdling” by the ads and that it was “difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content.”
The watchdog confirmed that it had reported Shein to prosecutors, prompting a complete investigation.
DGCCRF spokesperson Alice Vilcot-Dutarte told Le Parisien: “We were particularly surprised by the ads. Imagine a child browsing the site, looking for a doll and randomly stumbling upon these products.”
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Shein has since removed the listings, insisting that the dolls were uploaded by independent sellers and claiming to have a “zero tolerance policy” for anything that violates its standards or the law.
A company spokesperson said: “The products in question were immediately removed from the platform as soon as we became aware of these significant deficiencies.”
But the damage was already done. Within hours, the French government announced that it would suspend Shein’s operations in the country “for the time necessary for the platform to demonstrate that all its content complies with French law.”
Trade Minister Serge Papin criticized: “This is a company whose model is disregard for the rules. I will be uncompromising with the products that can be found in stores.”
He added that Shein’s environmental and safety standards “do not respect French laws.”
MP Antoine Vermorel-Marques was even more scathing, telling the National Assembly: “A line has been crossed. We went from fast fashion to fast fashion.” crime. Child pornography dolls were sold freely on this platform. “It’s a scandal.”
The MP said he had also reported Shein to the Paris prosecutor after discovering weapons, including category A weapons, for sale online.
“These weapons are not only for sale,” he said, “but with free delivery.”
Minister Papin responded: “This is too much. These are the same types of weapons used in the murder of young Elias on January 26.”
Adding to the outrage, Shein had already faced backlash in recent weeks for another shocking product: a children’s Christmas outfit emblazoned with the words “Santa’s Favorite Ho.”
The two-piece set, designed for toddlers aged 12 months to four years, featured red pants and a white long-sleeved top with the adult-themed slogan, leaving parents horrified that it would ever be approved for sale.
The slogan, widely recognized as a sexualised joke, prompted furious shoppers to brand the brand “disgusting” and “beyond tone deaf” for selling it in a children’s range.
Despite the national hype, Shein’s eye-catching Paris launch took place at 1 pm on Wednesday, inside the BHV Marais department store, one of the capital’s best-known retail outlets.
Police flooded the area early in the morning for fear of violent clashes. Dozens of officers, vans and barricades lined Rivoli Street.
Outside, protesters held signs that read: “BHV sells dreams made in poverty,” “Shame on Shein!” and “Fast fashion, we’re the ones paying the low prices!”
Paris mayoral candidate Emmanuel Grégoire joined the demonstration, calling the inauguration “a scandal” and demanding it be canceled immediately.
“Shein’s environmental and social production conditions are a disgrace,” he fumed. “This goes against the wishes of all the unions that keep Parisian companies alive.”
Green Deputy Mayor David Belliard accused the brand of “using slave labor” and “endangering our children by selling sexualized dolls of little girls.”
“This company does not have the right to do business here,” he said.
The activist Arnaud Gallais, a survivor of child abuse, was also among the protesters: “What a shame for BHV and Shein. The store promotes a company complicit in pedocriminality. Shein has no business being in the heart of Paris.”
Inside, the crowd was enormous: around 200 people lined up before opening time, eager to see what all the fuss was about.
One shopper, Mélanie, 41, downplayed the controversy: “I order from Shein once a week. It’s good quality and very cheap. Not all of us can afford to buy French.”
Others were less impressed. Yvonne, a retiree from Meaux, complained after queuing for an hour and a half: “It’s too expensive. I didn’t buy anything. Online it’s cheaper. I won’t go back.”
Some customers complained about a bad smell inside, saying it “smells like cheese and vomit,” after protesters reportedly sprayed a substance in the hallways.
By mid-afternoon, tensions rose again when activists stormed the sixth floor, waving Palestinian flags and signs. reading “From colonization to your closet.” They were quickly escorted away by security.
The store’s owner, Frédéric Merlin, tried to remain optimistic. “I’m happy, there are a lot of people,” he said. «The store is very nice We are not used to dealing with so many customers!
Merlin insisted: “I am confident in the quality and origin of the products we sell here.”
He added that BHV had “selected the high end” of the Shein range, arguing that it was in line with usual department store standards.
But outside, chants of “Boycott Shein!” and “Shame on you!” echoed across the street, as police struggled to contain the protesters.
The scandal has now spread to Brussels, where French parliamentarians are pushing for a European-wide resolution to crack down on Shein and other fast fashion giants.
“The urgency is clear,” Vermorel-Marques said. “After the invoice “On fast fashion, it is time for Europe to act.”
As of Wednesday evening, Shein said it had suspended all third-party listings and wanted to “engage in dialogue” with French authorities.
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The company admitted: “Following concerns regarding certain listings by independent third-party sellers, we are taking immediate action.”
Even as the brand attempted to control the fallout, its launch in Paris (meant to celebrate success) became a symbol of global outrage.
